Relationship between dentists’ career choice motivation and job satisfaction in Gwangju

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate dentists’ career-choice motivation and job satisfaction, and to find the relationships between dentist’s career-choice motivation and job satisfaction in Gwangju. The survey was performed by visiting 100 dental hospitals and clinics in Gwangju. Data were obtained from 144 dentists; 10 were excluded because they didn’t respond. The survey consists of 17 items about career choice and 29 about job satisfaction (Korean Dentist satisfaction survey. KDSS). Data were analyzed by SPSS 19.0. The three highest aspects among the 17 items about career-choice motivation were high professional status (85.7%), providing a secure career (65.4%), and opportunity to care for/help people (48.1%). On the other hand, the lowest aspect was science-based occupation (4.5%). Multiple regression analysis identified a model including perception of income, delivery of care. and professional time that accounted for 26.2% of the variation in overall job satisfaction. This study suggests that dentists who choose an opportunity to care for/help people and to have a secure career score high in overall job satisfaction. The findings of this study will be helpful to increase job satisfaction among Korean dentists.